ACLU and EFF Take On San Jose’s Surveillance Network
Legal representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have filed a lawsuit against the city of San Jose, California, over its use of Flock’s automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras. The case alleges that the city’s nearly 500 cameras, which blanket the city’s roads, have created a pervasive surveillance network that collects extensive data on residents’ movements. This is claimed to violate California’s constitution and privacy laws, as the city retains license plate data for an entire year, far beyond the typical retention period of most agencies.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network and Council on American-Islamic Relations, California, seeks to require police to get a warrant before accessing the Flock ALPR database. This legal action is part of a broader effort to challenge the use of such surveillance technologies. A similar case is already underway in Norfolk, Virginia, where plaintiffs are seeking to shut down Flock’s network entirely. The plaintiffs argue that San Jose’s ALPR program is particularly invasive due to the city’s heavy reliance on private vehicles for daily activities, making it nearly impossible for residents to avoid being tracked.
“San Jose’s ALPR program stands apart in its invasiveness,” ACLU of Northern California and EFF lawyers wrote in the lawsuit. “While many California agencies run ALPR systems, few retain the locations of drivers for an entire year like San Jose. Further, it is difficult for most residents of San Jose to get to work, pick up their kids, or obtain medical care without driving, and the City has blanketed its roads with nearly 500 ALPRs.” This case highlights the increasing concerns over the use of advanced surveillance technologies and their potential impact on individual privacy rights.